Structural Integration (Rolfing) - Bodywork in Madison

Structural Integration (SI), nicknamed "Rolfing," is a holistic system of soft tissue manipulation and movement education developed by Dr. Ida P Rolf that seeks to restore the body to its natural state of alignment and balance by reorganizing, restoring and lengthening the body's connective tissues commonly known as fascia. Fascia surrounds, supports and penetrates all of your muscles, bones and organs throughout your body in continuous web-like layers. This fascial net, or connective tissue system, is the body's internal system of flexible support giving strength and shape to our bodies. This system responds to injury, chronic tension and habitual movement patterns by rearranging the tissues in order to meet the forces of gravity and the mechanical forces created with movement. As a result the fascia shortens, thickens and becomes glue-like locking in these unhealthy patterns of strain and pulling the body out of alignment.

Dr. Rolf's work is based on the insight that the body is more at ease and functions most effectively when its structure is balanced along the vertical line of gravity. By systematically restoring the integrity of the fascial system, SI strives to align the body's components until the entire system is a smoothly functioning coordinated whole. Keeping in mind that structure (form) determines function (physiology), the result of this SI process is a more relaxed and supported structure, balanced tone throughout the tissues, ease and fluidity of movement, greater breathing capacity, better balance, less effort in activity and increased energy overall.